It is the affair of the moment, the one that peppers the world of football and agitates the English tabloids. The British daily The Sun published, Tuesday, February 8, a video in which the French defender Kurt Zouma (11 selections, the last in November) attacks his cat violently. Since then, the player from the London club West Ham has apologized, and his club has announced that it has inflicted the “largest possible fine“. While the subject has taken on significant proportions across the Channel, Franceinfo summarizes the facts for you.
A violent video unveiled by The Sun
The famous video was originally broadcast on the social network Snapchat. The tabloid The Sun relayed it Tuesday morning, immediately triggering an uproar. We see Kurt Zouma kicking one of his two cats, before throwing a shoe at him and then slapping his muzzle. The scene was filmed by his brother Yoan, also a footballer in the English fifth division, who embedded emojis of laughter. The British daily adds that the former Saint-Etienne and Chelsea player lost his temper because his cat accidentally broke a vase and tore off a light fixture.
Tomorrow’s front page: Premier League ace Kurt Zouma could be prosecuted after being filmed kicking his cat https://t.co/Ac3FyYpvqd pic.twitter.com/wFtz8d6StG
— The Sun (@TheSun) February 7, 2022
A rain of reactions, complaints and a fine
Massively condemned on social networks, this case of animal abuse has even been qualified as “contemptible” by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Faced with this bad buzzZouma apologized for actions he “sincerely regret”. West Ham, 4th in the Premier League, condemned “without reservation” the actions of his defender, indicating “handle the matter internally”.
On Wednesday, the club imposed on the player “the biggest fine possible”. Zouma accepted it and asked that “the amount is donated to an animal rights organization”said West Ham.
The 5th division club of Dagenham and Redbridge, indicated that he would take sanctions against his brother Yoan, who plays there and who filmed the scene.
In France, several associations, including the SPA, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation or the 30 Million Friends Foundation, have filed a complaint for animal abuse.
The SPA is outraged by this case and files a complaint against Kurt #Zouma which must have an exemplary behavior with respect to its notoriety towards young people – an example for young people. The SPA hopes for a meaningful condemnation commensurate with this act. https://t.co/qj3AYOVj3E
– SPA France (@SPA_Officiel) February 8, 2022
If an investigation were to be opened, Kurt Zouma would risk a lot. British legislation, tightened after Brexit, provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison in cases of animal abuse.
Established by his team the same evening but whistled by the public
Although his trainer David Moyes, “great animal lover” said to himself “disappointed with Kurt Zouma”, he nevertheless decided to align his 27-year-old defender on Tuesday evening against Watford (1-0). This choice, motivated by sporting criteria, did not fail to make people react. The native of Lyon was booed by part of the public at each touch of the ball. Victim of a fault, Watford supporters claimed, with a touch of irony: “This is how your cat feels”.
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Zouma played all ninety minutes of the match. “Some people will be disappointed by it and I understand that”willingly conceded David Moyes. “I know how important three points can be, I’m also a supporter of a club, but they should have been tough and suspended him for last night”, on the other hand, lambasted the mayor of London on Sky News. The consequences could prove unfortunate for the West London club, since one of its sponsors has announced that it will review its financial commitment.
160,000 people sign a petition
A petition, titled “Pursue Kurt Zouma and take all his animals to safety!”has thus been put online on the platform change.org. “In the UK we have laws against animal abuse, laws that should apply to everyone, rich or poor, famous or not!”the petition states.
By 3 p.m. Wednesday, more than 160,000 people had already signed it.